CVE-2023-37416Public exploit

Code execution via legacy VCD buffer miscalculation

Published Jan 8, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Out-of-bounds write in GTKWave 3.3.115 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by opening a crafted VCD file in legacy GUI mode. An incorrect buffer-size check in parse_valuechange at src/vcd.c:965 permits a terminating NULL byte to be written beyond a heap allocation. Exploitation requires user interaction to open the file while GTKWave runs with the -L flag, and successful memory corruption can compromise the application process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in GTKWave 3.3.115 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by opening a crafted VCD file in legacy GUI mode. An incorrect buffer-size check in parse_valuechange at src/vcd.c:965 permits a terminating NULL byte to be written beyond a heap allocation. Exploitation requires user interaction to open the file while GTKWave runs with the -L flag, and successful memory corruption can compromise the application process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-37416
Published
Jan 8, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
GTKWave
Product
GTKWave
Classifications
CWE-787, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 8, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.3.115

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GTKWave · GTKWaveversion=3.3.115

Published CVSS scores

7.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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